Le Mars utilities staff reports flood damage at wastewater plant; crews relined sewers and brought new UV system online

A Le Mars utilities staff member told the council that heavy runoff this year flooded the older wastewater facility, forced emergency bypass pumping and required crews to rehabilitate several collection lines.

The presentation said crews applied biosolids to about 667 acres this year and focused on the city—s collection system. The speaker described a collapsed eight-inch line and others with root intrusion; crews used a high-pressure robotic tool to clear blockages, then had a lining crew install pipe liners "so they will never crow again," the utilities staff member said. That lining work covered roughly 6,000 feet of sewer in town, the speaker said.

The staff member described flood photos shown to the council: "That first page is the driveway going into wastewater. That has never had water go over it before and it turned it into rapids," the staff member said. The presentation included a photo of emergency bypass pumps the city started after a call about basement backups at about 10 p.m.

The utilities presenter also showed the new ultraviolet (UV) disinfection unit, which the city has put into operation. "Last picture on the last page is our new UV system in operation," the presenter said. The unit was described visually in the slides as resembling a "glorified tanning bed." A council commenter praised staff work after the flood and noted the expense of recovery and repairs.

Discussion at the meeting distinguished damage and response at the older plant from other parts of the system. When asked whether all flood damage was contained to the old plant, the utilities speaker said it was.

No formal motions or votes on capital projects or emergency repairs were recorded in the transcript segment provided.